Swimming appliance



Aug. 10, 1937.

N. SQUICCIARINI 2,089,585

SWIMMING APPLIANCE Filed Feb. 19, 1957 s sheets-shes"; 2

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Inventor 13050206 yazkaa'arnz' By @Mm Au 10, 1937. N. S UICCIARINI 2,089,585

SWIMMING APPLIANCE Filed Feb. 19, 1957 s SheetsSheet s Inventor lea/1020.: zs y'zawa'araai- By W 19m Attorneys Patented Aug. 10, 1937 STAES PATENT orsic Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in swimming appliances and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device which is 5 adapted to be mounted on a swimmers foot and which includes novel means in the form of a pair of swinging blades to materially assist the swimmer in propelling himself through the water.

Another very important object of the invenw tion is to provide a swimming appliance of the aforementioned character comprising novel means for connecting the blades together for swinging movement in opposite directions in unison.

Still another very important object of the invention is to provide an appliance of the character described embodying a novel construction and arrangement whereby the swimmer may walk on the device without damaging the blades or other parts.

A still further important object of the invention is to provide a swimming appliance of the character set forth which may be expeditiously adjusted to fit different sizes of feet.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a swimming appliance of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, compact, light in weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in top plan of a swimming appliance constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing the blades in open position.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation thereof with a portion broken away in section.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the invention.

Figure 4 is a view in vertical longitudinal section through the appliance, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Figure 6 is a view in front elevation of the invention with the gear housing removed.

Figure 7 is a detail view in perspective of one of the, substantially channel or U-shaped side bars.

Figure 8 is a detail view in perspective of one of the cushions.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a pair of 5 substantially channel shaped side bars I of suitable metal the fianges of which project inwardly, as illustrated to advantage in Fig. 5 of the drawings. Rigidly secured between the end portions of the side bars I are metallic blocks 2. The 10 upper edges of the blocks 2 are substantially flush with the upper flanges of the side bars I but said blocks project below the lower flanges of said side bars I. This is also shown to advantage in Fig. 5 of the drawings. 15

Rigidly secured on the blocks 2 and projecting forwardly and rearwardly therebeyond is a metallic foot plate 3. The foot plate 3 also projects beyond the side bars 1. Formed in the projecting longitudinal marginal portions of the foot plate 3, adjacent the forward end of said foot plate, are pairs of slots 4. The slots 4 are adapted to receive a suitable strap 5 for securing the forward end portion of the device to the 'foot. The strap 5 may be secured in either pair of slots 4 according to the length of the swimmers foot. Formed in the rear portion of the plate '3 are pairs of slots 6 which are substantially similar to the slots 4. The reference numeral 1 designates an arcuate, metallic heel plate having depending'hooks 8 on its end portions which are engageable selectively, in the pairs of slots 6 in the manner shown to advantage in Fig. 2 of the drawings. A slotted bracket 9 is rigidly secured to the lower portion of the arcuate heel plate 7 at the rear thereof for receiving a securing screw Ill. The securing screw H3 is adapted to be threaded selectively in openings i! which are provided therefor in the foot plate 3 for securing the rear portion of the arcuate heel plate 7 in position. To mount the arcuate heel plate I in position, the hooks 8 are inserted through the desired pair of slots 6, after which said heel plate 1 is moved forwardly in a manner to engage said hooks beneath the foot plate 3. The screw I0 is then threaded into one of the openings ll through the slotted bracket 9 for securing the heel plate 1 against longitudinal movement.

Journaled in the blocks 2 and extending therethrough is a pair of spaced, parallel, longitudi- 50 nally extending shafts I2. Fixed on the end portions of the shafts l2, forwardly and rearwardly of the blocks 2, are meshed gears I3 through the medium of which said shafts are connected together for rotary movement in opposite direc- 55 tions in unison. Front and rear metallic housings M and I5, respectively, are mounted on the V blocks 2 beneath the projecting end portions of the foot plate 3 and enclose the gears I3.

Mounted on the shafts I 2 for rotation therewith are pairs of adjustable arms I6. The arms I6 are secured in adjusted position on the shafts I2 through the medium of set screws II. Mounted on the pairs of arms I 6 are metallic blades I8. Cushions I9 of suitable material, preferably rub:- ber, are mounted on the lower flanges of the side bars I for engagement by the arms I6 when the blades I8 swing to open position (see Fig. Mounted for swinging movement on the housing I5 is a latch 20 which is, engageable beneath the adjacent blade I8 for releasably securing the blades in open position. A thumb lever 2| is provided for actuating the latch 8. The thumb lever 2! is engageable in a notched keeper 2! on the housing I5 for releasably securing said lever and the latch 20 against swinging movement. The arcuate heel plate I is provided with suitable slots 23 for receiving a strap, as at 25, for securing the rear end of the device to the foot.

It is thought that the manner of using the appliance will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. The strap 5 and the arcuate heel plate I are inserted in the desired pairs of slots 4 and 6 and the device is secured to the foot of the swimmer. Of course, one of the devices is mounted on each foot. As the swimmer kicks out with his legs, the blades I8 swing to open position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 5 of the drawings, in a manner tomaterially assist said swimmer in propelling himself through the water. As the swimmer draws his legs forwardly for the next power stroke the blades I8 swing to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5 of the drawings for reducing resistance to the water to a minimum. The cushions!!! engage the arms I6 for arresting the blades I8 on their outward swinging movement, said cushions assuring quiet operation. When the user desires to walk with the appliance on his feet, the blades I8 are swung to open position and secured through-the medium of the latch 20. With the blades I8 thus secured in open position the blocks 2 will engage the ground and support the weight of the user. A longitudinal reenforcing plate 24 is rigidly secured beneath the rear end portion of the foot plate 3. As shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the reenforcing plate 24 is provided with threaded openings aligned with the openings II for the reception of the screw I0. g

It is believed that the many advantages of a swimming appliance constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted 'to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A swimming appliance comprising a foot plate, means for securing said foot plate to the foot of a swimmer, a pair of parallel shafts journaled to and beneath the foot plate, blades fixed on said shafts, and means connecting the shafts together for rotation in opposite directions in unison.

2. A swimming appliance comprising a foot plate, means for securing said foot plate on the foot of a. swimmer, a pair of blocks fixed beneath the foot plate at longitudinally spaced points, a pair of parallel shafts journaled in said blocks and extending therethrough, gears fixed on the end portions of the shafts, said gears being meshed with each other for connecting the shafts together for rotation in opposite directions in unison, housings mounted on the blocks and enclosing the gears, and blades fixed on the shafts between the blocks.

3. A swimming appliance comprising a foot plate, means for securing said foot plate to the foot of a swimmer, a pair of longitudinally spaced blocks fixed beneath the foot plate, a pair of parallel shafts journaled in said blocks, means for connecting said shafts together for rotation'in opposite directions in unison, blades fixed on the shafts and adapted for swinging movement ,to open and closed position beneath the foot plate, and means for releasably securing said blades in open position.

4. A swimming appliance comprising a foot plate, said foot plate having slots in its longitudinal marginal portions, an arcuate heel plate detachably mounted on the foot plate, said heel plate including depending hooks engageable in the slots and slidable beneath the foot plate for securing said heel plate in position thereon, means for securing the heel plate against sliding movement on the foot plate, and a pair of blades mounted beneath the foot plate and adapted for swinging movement to open and closed position. 5. A swimming appliance comprising a pair of substantially channel shaped side bars, .metallic blocks secured between the end portions of said side bars, a foot plate secured to said blocks, means for securing the foot plate to the foot of a swimmer, a pair of spaced, parallel shafts journaled in the blocks, arms fixed on said shafts, blades fixed on said arms and adapted for swinging movement to open and closed position beneath the foot plate, and cushions mounted on the side bars and engageable by the arms when the blades swing to open position.

NICHOLAS SQUICCIARINI. 

